Medication compliance alert device

• US 9,474,695 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nexpil, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nexpil, Inc.
• Inventors: Khalid, Syed
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
• Application Number:
  US14/521,379
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1412 Containers with closing means, e.g. caps
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/40 by shape or form, e.g. by using shape recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A device can include an alert mechanism and a detection mechanism. The alert mechanism can activate an alert for a user to take a medication from a target medication receptacle. The detection mechanism can detect a tag associated with a medication receptacle. Actions may be performed based on a correlation between the detected tag and the target medication receptacle, such as deactivating the alert based at least in part on detecting the tag associated with the target medication receptacle.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an alert mechanism configured to activate an alert for a user to take a medication from a target medication receptacle; and

a verification mechanism separate from the target medication receptacle and configured to;

detect a tag associated with the target medication receptacle; and

deactivate the alert based at least in part on detecting the tag associated with the target medication receptacle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the verification mechanism is configured to detect the tag by detecting the tag via near field communication.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a watch, a bracelet, a necklace, a garment, or a device worn by the user.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the alert for a user to take a medication from the target medication receptacle comprises a tactile alert.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the alert for a user to take a medication from the target medication receptacle comprises an auditory alert.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the alert for a user to take a medication from the target medication receptacle comprises a visual alert.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the visual alert comprises a shape corresponding to a shape associated with the target medication receptacle.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the visual alert comprises a color corresponding to a color associated with the target medication receptacle.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the visual alert comprises a color and a shape corresponding to a color and a shape associated with the target medication receptacle.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a response mechanism configured to determine and/or communicate information based at least in part on the verification mechanism detecting the tag and/or deactivating the alert.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the information comprises an amount of time between activating the alert and detecting the tag.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the information comprises an amount of medication remaining in the specific medicine receptacle, the amount being based at least in part on a number of times tag has been detected.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the response mechanism is configured to communicate the information to at least one of the user, a healthcare provider, or a computer.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the information comprises at least one of:

an amount of time until a next alert activation;

an amount of time elapsed from a previous alert activation, a previous tag detection, and/or a previous alert deactivation;

or

information about the medication from the specific medication receptacle.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the tag associated with the target medication receptacle comprises a tag incorporated into at least one of a lid for the target medication receptacle, a label for the target medication receptacle, a cover for the target medication receptacle, or a body of the target medication receptacle.

16. A system comprising:

a plurality of identifiers, each associated with a corresponding medication receptacle; and

a device configured to;

initiate a reminder for a user to take a medication from a target medication receptacle associated with a target identifier from the plurality of identifiers;

detect an identifier from the plurality of identifiers, the detected identifier associated with a detected medicine receptacle; and

when the detected identifier corresponds with the target identifier, provide a confirmation that the detected medication receptacle corresponds to the target medicine receptacle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the confirmation comprises terminating the reminder.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the alert device is further configured to, when the detected identifier does not correspond with the target identifier, provide an indication that the detected medication receptacle does not correspond to the target medicine receptacle.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the indication comprises perpetuating the reminder.

20. A system comprising:

a plurality of medication receptacles, each medication receptacle of the plurality having a cap with a shape and/or color associated therewith; and

a device comprising a plurality of lights, each light of the plurality of lights matching a shape and/or color of a cap of a medication receptacle of the plurality of medication receptacles, the device configured to;

activate one of the lights of the plurality when a reminder is due to a patient to take a medication associated with the medication receptacle having the cap with the shape and/or color matching the light; and

deactivate the activated light when the cap with the shape and/or color matching the light is detected by the device.